Amusement device



- c. A. BRADLEY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

Jan. 20. 1925. 1,523,741

C. A. BRADLEY AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nu T v i i1 w [mum INVENTIOR.

' ATTORNEY.

BY I r 1? y W /7 z x; O I

Patented Jan. 29, 1925.

UET 5T CHARLES A. BRADLEY, OF KIEFER, OKLAHOMA.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed November 7, 1923. Serial No. 673,381.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kiefer, in the county of Greek and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in amusement devices and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character embodying a target movable under impact from one position to another together with an indicating means operating when the target is in a second position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character embodying a supportlng structure having hingedly supported thereby a plurality of targets, each of said targets being movable one independently of the other and normally maintained in an upright position, each of said targets being adapted to be thrown back or tilted under impact together with means operating during the period when said target is thrown back or tilted to indicate such position of the target.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved amusement device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an amusement device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invent-ion;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the target as herein disclosed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation illustrating the relative positions of a set of bumpers and a circuit closer;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the frame comprised in a target and the rod associated therewith;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the type of circuit closer herein disclosed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes a pair of parallel sills spaced apart a desired distance and from each of which extends upwardly a pair of posts or uprights 1 and 2. The upper ends of the uprights are tied or connected by the top beams 23 terminating a desired distance in advance of the forward or front uprights l.

The outer ends of the beams 3 are connected by the beam 4, said beam 4 extending a desired distance beyond the beams 3.

The uprights 1 at predetermined points spaced lengthwise thereof are connected by the cross members 5 and adjacent members 5 at predetermined points spaced therefrom are connected by the intermediate members 6 resulting in the device being provided with a front face having a plurality of openings 7. As herein disclosed said openings are nine in number, said openings being aligned both vertically and horizontally each aligned series of openings being three in number.

The rear posts or uprights 2 are connected by the cross members 8, each of said members being substantially coplanar with a front cross member 5. Each of the cross members 8 rearwardly of the openings 7 are provided with the upstanding bumpers 9, two of said bumpers being positioned rearwardly of each of the openings 7. The cross member 8 between each pair of bumpers 9 is also provided with a circuit closer comprising a movable contact 10 and a spring contact 11, said spring contact 11 being normally in open position. The particular structure derived from these characteristic features in the particular construction of the closure member forms no part in the present invention.

Mounted upon the central portion of the beam 4 is a housing 12 divided by the partitions 14 into a plurality of compartments 15 equal in number to the openings 7. The outer or front faces of the compartments 15 being closed by the transparent panels 16 having suitably produced thereon the characters 17 identifying each of the compartments. Suitably arranged within each of the compartments 15 is an electric lamp circuit closer being interposed in the operating circuit 19 therefor.

Positioned above each of the lower cross members and immediately adjacent thereto is a rod 20, said rod being disposed upon the front posts or uprights 1 and the inter mediate vertical members 6 whereby the rods are maintained in desired position.

Fitting substantially snug within each of the openings 7 is a target T, said target comprising a frame 21 having its side members formed of angle iron with the adjacent extremities thereof welded together or'otherwise connected. The frame has disposed thereacrossthe packing 22 preferably canvas. Snugly; fitting within the frame 21 is a pad 23 of any desired construction but preferably comprisin a suitable container of leather stuffed with suitable material.

A rod is freely disposed through the lower portion 'of each of the frames 21 whereby said frame is supported for rearward swinging or tilting movement. The pad 23 is of suflicient depth or thickness to have requisite Contact from above with a frent member 5 to maintain the target T normally in a vertical or upright posit-ion. The rear cross members 8 are spaced from the front cross members 5 a distance less than the length of the targets T so that when a target Tis swung or thrown back it will have requisite Contact with its associated circuit closer to cause the closing of the circuit for the lamp 18 in the compar't ment 15 associated with said closer.

The bumpers 9 are preferably of rubber although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular material and these bumpers 9 serve to absorb the shock of the tilting or swinging targets.

The outer faces of the targets T are provided with the characters QLsimilar to the characters 17 and these characters 24:, as are also the characters 17, are differently numbered, in the present embodiment of my inventionfroin l to 9 with such characters arranged in a manner that the total of each vertical series or each horizontal series willbe fifteen. i In practice, a player stands a predetermined distance in advance of the device and throws'a baseball or the like with an endeavor to strike a target T with sufiicient force to swing or throw back said target, said game to be played and counted in accordance with anytlesii'ecl rule. Whe'n atarget T is in its lowered position it will be readily understood that the Weight of such targetv will keep its circuit closer closed entirely during such period or until a target is raised. As here-in disclosed each of the targets is adapted to be raised or thrown back into its normal or vertical position through the medium of a flexible use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein... shown in carrying out my invention in practic-e except as hereinafter claimed.

I cla1m:- l. A target comprising a member provided with an opening, a cross member posi- .tiond rearwardly of the member and sub stantially coplanar with the portion of the member adjacent the bottom of the opening. a rod disposed across the lower portion ofthe opening, a frame adapted to be positioned within the opening, the rod being' freely disposed through said frame whereby said frame is supported for swinging movement, said frame swinging inwardly and downwardly for contact from above with the cross member, and means for moving said frame to a position within the opening. f 2. A target comprising a member provided with an opening, a cross member positioned rearwardly of the member and substantially coplanar with the portion of the member adjacent .the "bottomof the opening, a rod disposed across the lower portion of the opening, a frame adapted to be positioned within the opening, therod whereby said frame is supported for swingmg movement, said frame swinging inwardly and downwardly for contact from above being freely disposed through said frame with the cross member, means for moving said frameto a position within the opening,

and upstanding bumpers carried by the cross memberwith which the'frame contacts when in its lowered position.

3. A device of the class described comien risin -in combination substantiall aralit p 537 7 lel sills, a pair of uprights carried by each of the sills, beams connecting the up-perex'- tremities of the pairs of sills and terminatingin advance of the forwarduprights, a beam connecting the forward extended portions of the first named beams, cross members interposed between the forward uprights, intermediate cross members interposed between the cross members, said cross members and intermediate members providing a plurality of openings, a target normally fitting within each of said openings means for pivotally mounting the lower end portions of each of the targets to permit said targets to swing inwardly and downwardly under impact, flexible members engaged with the targets, and guides carried by the upper cross member and the second named beam for the second member to permit the flexible members to turn the targets Within the openings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHAR-LES A. BRADLEY. 

